A 37-year-old Florida man, Nicholas Steven Kirchner, is facing serious charges after allegedly murdering his parents and then threatening to kill others while traveling to another state. The tragic events began in Largo, Florida, where Kirchner is accused of shooting his parents, 53-year-old Elizabeth Lee Kirchner and 64-year-old Steven Eric Kirchner. The investigation into their deaths unfolded after a welfare check on Friday afternoon revealed the victims’ bodies in the living room of their home.
Discovery of the Crime
The disturbing case started with a welfare check requested for an employee who had failed to show up for work on Friday. Pinellas County deputies responded to the home on Saunders Avenue around 12:30 p.m. Upon entering, they discovered both parents dead from gunshot wounds. Authorities immediately began investigating the deaths as homicides, which soon led to the identification of their son, Nicholas Kirchner, as the prime suspect.
Kirchner’s Journey and Further Threats
After the killings, Nicholas Kirchner reportedly fled the scene, traveling north. Around three hours later, deputies in Taliaferro County, Georgia, received a 911 call about a suspicious man on the side of the highway. When officers arrived, they found Kirchner kneeling on the shoulder of the road, wearing all white and a red baseball cap. Upon being approached, Kirchner identified himself and claimed to be armed. He later admitted to deputies that he was wanted for the murder of his parents.
As the investigation progressed, authorities learned that earlier in the day, Kirchner had pointed a gun at a person in Sumter, South Carolina. According to reports, he threatened the individual, saying, “I’ve already killed two people — I’ll kill some more.” He also allegedly forced people to enter a house and retrieve items under the threat of being shot if they did not comply.
Admission of the Murders
After his arrest in Georgia, Kirchner reportedly confessed multiple times to killing his parents. He described the murders as a “righteous kill” and mentioned abandoning a stolen Nissan Pathfinder near the scene of his arrest. His actions and the threats made to others during his travels added to the seriousness of the charges against him.
Charges and Extradition
Nicholas Kirchner has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his parents. After being taken into custody, he was transported to McDuffie County Jail in Georgia, where he is awaiting extradition back to Florida. Authorities are still working on gathering more details about the motive behind the killings, with a probable cause affidavit expected to shed light on the possible reasons behind the crime.
Community and Authorities’ Reaction
This disturbing case has left the local community in shock, as the details surrounding the murders and the suspect’s subsequent actions have unfolded. The arrest of Kirchner in Georgia highlights the swift response of law enforcement across state lines to bring the suspect to justice.
